Dumping bucket



R. WALSH DUMPING BUCKET Dec. 27, 1938.

Filed Feb. 25, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l u Wazsi/nventqr (lttorneg.

. Dec. 27, 1938. R, WALSH I DUMPI'NG BUCKET Filed Feb. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-She et 2 magma E6192) (Ittomeufl Dec. 27, 1938.

R. WALSH DUMPIYNG BUCKET Filed Feb.v25, 19 38 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 III 11b 8 Jim/W01 Wwk' Patented Dec. 27, 1938 2,141,702 DUMPING BUCKET Richard Walsh, Mobile, Ala.

ApplicationFebruary 25, 1938, Serial No. 1923551 7 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to dumping buckets or tubs, and has for" one object to provide a structure which may be constructed of aluminum, or other relatively light material, without sacrificing the size or capacity of the tub and'to provide a tub which is relatively light in weight to facilitate handling.

Another object of the invention is to provide'a bucket or tub structure wherein the weight isdistributed over small areas, and wherein the entire load is supported from a'substantially-central point so that all parts ofthe device may be made of light material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bail for the bucket or tub which, when swung down either direction, will come to rest on the upper edge portion of the bucket and will not fall to'the ground or floor; preventing injury to the workmen incident to the bail striking them, particularly on'the legs and feet.

The invention also provides a bail and body structure for the bucket wherein the bail may be relatively light,- will not'collapse under the weight and wherein the side arms of the ball will not have the tendency to collapse or bend toward each other.

The invention also provides an improved latch mechanism for a door when'used on the tub or bucket,*and which may be connected to'the bail for releasing the door when the'bucket body is tilted; or released by hand if desired; to provide an improved trip mechanism to release the bucket b'ody'when dumping is desired; to provide a tub structure which may be provided with wheels ifdesired, orwithout the door for certain uses, as in the handling of sticky material; and to provide' atub 'or bucket structure with weight-distributing and reinforcing straps 'which' are connected to'the ends of the bail, and at various points between the sides of the bucket to the bail to'suspend the'b'ucket not only at its sides from'the bail but also from one or more central points to'hold thebucket from collapsing under load.

With'the foregoing and otherobjects in view; the'ifivention will be more fully described hereinafter, andwill be more particularly pointed out in' the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like'or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a dumping bucket or tub embodyingthe'features of the present invention;

JEi'gure' Z isia detaiL front elevation- 0f the door or gate which may be used on the'bucket or tub.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the bucket of this'invention, parts being shown in section.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken through the same substantially on the line 4- of Figure 3.

Figure 5isa longitudinal vertical section taken through the bucket on the line 55- of Figure 3, and Figure dis a front elevation of the bucket.

Referring to the drawings, the body portion of the bucket or tub is shown'at ill and is preferably made up of aluminum or other relatively light material. The body portion may be given any suitalfle'shape or form to adapt the bucket or tub to the particular work to be performed, and as shown in the present instance is provided with a rigid end wall H and is open at its other end. Reinforcing straps I2 may be suitably placed along the bottom of the body portion and are preferably carried up around the curved closed end of the body portion as clearly shown'in Figure 5.

The upper marginal edge ofthe body portion is provided with an angle iron reinforcement l3 which extends along the opposite sides of the body'portion and across the rear end wall ll thereof. The bottom of the'bu'cket body-preferably extends outwardly beyond the upper'edge thereof at the open end while the side walls are beveled to form a scooplike construction at the frontof the bucket or tub.

The bucket or tub H! is adapted to be suspended from a single point, such as at the ring or clevis I4. I5 to the upper ends of a'pair of plates it? which are pivotally mounted upon a rod or cross-bar l1 spaced above the body portion i9. This crossbar I! is connected at suitably spaced apart points throughout its length with certain portions or areas ofthe bucket Ill so as to distribute the weight of the bucket along the cross-bar and to thus relieve the bucket from strains tending to collapse or bulge the bucket under pressure of the weight of the material in the bucket. To this end, the bucket or tub body I0 is provided with a second cross-bar or rod l8 which is disposed through the bucket, transversely thereof and at a suitable point preferably between the upper and lower edges of the sides of the bucket. The crossbar I8 extends at opposite ends through the sides of the bucket and, as shown particularly in Figure 4, a pair of straps l9'are secured at their outer ends to the projecting ends of the'cross bar I 8,'- are carried downwardly against the' si'des' and The clevis M is secured by a bolt across the bottom of the bucket H! to the central portion thereof, from which the straps I9 are turned upwardly within the bucket l0, and are secured at their inner ends to the intermediate portion of the rod or bar I8. Each strap l9 thus provides an independent hanger which embraces a side portion of the bucket sothat the side portions of the bucket are independently suspended from the cross-bar l8. Pressure of material in the bucket, tending to bulge the bottom thereof downwardly is offset by the upturned inner ends of the straps IS.

The cross-bar I8 is suspended from the upper cross-bar H by a pair of outer links 20 which interconnect the outer ends of the cross-bars l1 and I8, and by a pair of inner links 2| which extend between the cross-bars at their intermediate portions. It will be noted that the inner links 2| are disposed adjacent to the clevis plates 16 so that the middle portions of the bars I 1 and I B and of the bottom of the bucket are suspended directly from the clevis I4. The straps 19 with their suspension bars l1 and I8 are disposed at a suitable point intermediate the opposite ends of the bucket or tubso as to obtain 7 For releasably holding the bucket from swinging downwardly and forwardly when in carrying position, a suitable trip is employed, and as shown comprises a cross-rod 23, secured between the forward ends of the reinforcing angle bar I3, and on which is pivoted at an intermediate point, a pair of short'links 24 spaced apart a short distance and carrying between their free ends a spacer or crosspiece 26 adapted to engage in the bill of a hook 21 pivotally mounted upon a bolt 28 carried between a pair of adjustable links 29 which are pivoted to theupper crossbar I1. The hook 21 is provided with a shank 30 to which may be attached a chain 3| or other suitable operating device by means of which the hook 21 may be swung upon its pivot 28 to disengage the hook 21 from the spacer 26 and thus trip or release the lower pair of links 24 from the upper pair of adjustable links 29. The released position of the trip is shown in Figure 1. When the trip is released the bucket 7 front cross-rod 23 extends through the sides of the bucket and carries the outer ends of straps 32 which are carried down against the outer sides of the bucket across the bottom thereof to a middle point, as shown in Figure 5, and thence are turned upwardly a short distance and are engaged upon a bottom cross-rod 33 which serves to distribute the weight imposed on the bottom of the bucket along the rod to the sides thereof.

The upper portion of the bucket is provided with a pair of aprons 34 which extend a short distance backwardly along the sides of the bucket and extend across the front thereof to a considerable extent so as to direct and centralize the material of the bucket as it is being poured from the open 'end thereof.

A plurality of agitator or spreader bars 35 are secured to the bottom of the bucket adjacent its forward end and are inclined upwardly and backwardly so that the material in the bucket, tending to pack or jam the mouth of the bucket, will be broken up and the particles thereof be caused to flow freely about and between the bars 35 during the pouring operation, and the bars 35 will also insure that the material flows evenly during the dumping action. While the invention may be used with various types of buckets or tubs, with or without doors, the present embodiment shows the invention as applied to a bucket or tub having a door or gate 36. This door or gate 36 is shown in detail in Figure 2 and may be constructed of an aluminum body or plate rolled over its upper end to provide a hinge sleeve 31' fitting upon the rod 23 serving as a pivot for the door, the door ex= tending downwardly and forwardly from the rod 23 and adapted to close'against the upper surface of the bottom of the bucket Ill. The door 36 may have a plurality of vertical reinforcing straps 38 to stiffen the door, and may be further reinforced by angle irons 39 extending along the lateral and free marginal edge portions -of the door, the angle irons 39 being spaced apart at the central portion of the door to admit free operation of a latch bolt 40, which is slidably mounted in bearings 4| secured to the outer surface of the door. The bolt 40 is adapted to drop down into a suitable keeper socket 42, shown in Figure 6, for locking the door closed. The latch bolt 49 is disposed vertically on the door and is provided with a head at its upper end beneath which one leg of a latch lever 43 engages, the latter mounted at its upper end on a pivot M projecting from the door 36. A stop 45 is also disposed upon the outer face of the door to hold the latch lever in releasing position, as shown in Figure 6. A latch cord 46 is adjustably secured between the free end of the latch lever 43 and the cross-rod 11 so that when the bucket is tripped and swings downwardly at its forward end the latch cord 43 is drawn taut and swings the latch lever 43 into the position shown in Figure 2, engaging V the head of the bolt 40 and sliding the same upwardly to free the door. The Weight of the material plus the taut latch cord 46 swings the door 36 into open position, as shown in Figure 1, so that the material of granular or liquid consistency may pour from the open end of the bucket.

The bucket body I0 is thus suspended from a bail l1 having a plurality of transversely spaced apart arms 20 and 2| which are pivotally connected by the rod I8 to the upper ends of the U-shape straps i9. This structure independently suspends the portions of the bucket body II] which are included in the respective straps I9 so that each portion'or section of the bucket body I0 is independently supported and reinforced and hangs from the bail without transmitting any appreciable pressure to the adjacent portions of the bucket body. This prevents the collapse and the bulging of the bucket body under load, and the" bucket body may be made relatively. large as compared with its weight and thickness and strength of the material or materials of whic the bucket body is constructed.

This sectional suspension and reinforcement of I the bucket body is had at its open end by use of the straps 32 which are connected to the front rod 23, the latter in turn being releasably connected to the bail by the trip hook 21 so that the pressure in the front end of the bucket does not tend to collapse the mouth of the bucket. The straps 32 and I9 are disposed in endwise relation across the bottom of the bucket and thus divide the same into transversely reinforced and independently suspended zones or sections.

The bail l! and its arms 29 and 2! are so proportioned, or are of such length that the bail when released at its upper end will swing down and strike against and be supported on the upper edge of the bucket. The angle iron reinforcement l3 at the top of the bucket will take up shock and wear and prevent the bail from swinging down and striking the feet and legs of workmen handling the bucket.

The hook 27 and the adjustable links 29 have series of holes therein for admitting adjustment to accommodate the trip to conditions of use. The hook 2'! has its bill extending forwardly and upwardly so that the chains 3| may be pulled from in front of the bucket to release the trip and swing the front end of the bucket downwardly.

While one particular form or construction of bucket ID has been illustrated and described for the purpose of setting forth this invention, it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to buckets of various types now used and known in the art.

In use, the bucket or tub is used with or without the door 36, and in any event is supported from a single point upon the hoist rope or chain from the clevis Hi. The clevis IQ is connected to the bail by the plates [6 and the bail is provided with the links or arms which swing about the cross-bar l8 so as to pivotally support the bucket. The trip holds the bucket from tilting forwardly while the anchor chain 22 holds the bucket from tilting backwardly. The material is placed in the bucket in the usual manner and the bucket thus held against swinging, as shown in Figure 5, is elevated or lowered into the dumping location. The chain 3| is now pulled and causes the trip hook 21 to move downwardly and inwardly from the spacer 26 of the trip links 24 for freeing the latter whereupon the material in the bucket flows toward the door 36 and the bucket tilts forwardly as shown in Figure 1, at the same time releasing the latch bolt and opening the door. The aprons 34 hold the material from flowing over the forward sides of the bucket and directs the material downwardly and centrally toward the door, the material flowing out about the rods 35 in a continuous and even stream.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims: o

What is claimed is:

1. A dumping bucket, comprising a bucket body, independent reinforcing straps disposed against the sides and bottom of the bucket body with the inner ends of the straps extending upwardly through the bottom of the bucket body, and a bail having a plurality of transversely spaced apart arms pivotally secured to the ends of the straps for independently suspending the portions of the bucket body lying within the respective strap from the bail.

2. A dumping bucket, comprising a bucket body, a plurality of U-shape straps engaging in a transverse row across the bottom of the bucket body and extending upwardly against the sides and through the bottom thereof, and a bail having a plurality of transversely spaced apart arms pivotally connected to the upper ends of the straps for independently suspending the sections of the bucket body included within said straps.

3. A dumping bucket, comprising a bucket body, a pair of reinforcing straps extending downwardly from opposite sides of the body and having their inner ends upturned through the bottom of the bucket, a cross-bar extending through the bucket body and engaging said cross-bar at its end and intermediate portions for supporting the opposite side sections of the bucket body independently transverse rods secured through the bucket body and engaging the upturned ends of said straps for independently supporting the sections of the bucket body included within the straps from the respective rods, and a bail connected to said rods for independently suspending said portions of y the bucket body from the bail.

5. A dumping bucket, comprising a bucket body closed at one end and open at its opposite end, pairs of reinforcing straps disposed against the outer sides of the bucket body at an intermediate point and adjacent its open end, said straps extending inwardly beneath the bottom of the bucket body and having their inner ends upturned through the bucket body for dividing the same into lateral sections, transverse rods secured through the bucket body for the intermediate and end straps and engaging the upper ends thereof for supporting the body sections independently from the rods, a bail pivotally connected to the intermediate rod, and a releasable trip disposed between the end rod and said bail for independently supporting the body sections from the bail.

6. A dumping bucket, comprising an aluminum body portion, reinforcements for said body portion for holding the same to shape and including a marginal bar about the upper edge of the bucket body, a plurality of upturned straps disposed endwise in a row beneath the bottom of the bucket body and having their free ends upturned through the bottom of the body and against the sides thereof, a rod mounted transversely through the bucket body and connected to the upper ends of said straps for supporting the bucket body in zones to distribute the internal stresses of the material in the bucket independently to the zones,

, and a bail having a plurality of transversely 

